District Vision & Mission

District Vision & Mission

2020 Vision and Mission

ENDS FOR STUDENTS
 
Under the Policy Governance model, the Mercer Island School Board’s most important responsibility is to develop a Vision, Mission, and “Ends” or goals, which are areas of knowledge and skill that drive the instructional program in order to successfully prepare students for the cognitive, global and digital world. The Vision, Mission, and “Ends,” provide the educational framework for the entire District.

2020 VISION

Our students will thrive in the cognitive, digital, and global world while sustaining their passion and inspiration for learning.

MISSION

Mercer Island Schools will deliver a 21st century education that prepares students to convert information into knowledge and create innovation solutions demanded by tomorrow’s world.

The School Board developed its Vision, Mission and “Ends” with significant input from parents, students, staff, and community members as well as education and business experts. However, they are subject to revision and updates as Board members continually link with constituents and evaluate the changing world.

The Mercer Island School District Vision and Goal were adopted by the Board of Directors on July 9, 2009. After much discussion at the semi-annual board retreat, Board Policy 2020 was adopted on August 13, 2009. Since that time, Board Policy 2020 has been revised on 9/10/09, 9/23/10, 2/24/11, 3/10/11 and 7/27/11.

2020 VISION ESSENTIAL

Creating a more personalized learning environment that is responsive to students' strengths, needs, learning styles, interests, passions and affinities.

The 2020 fundamentals and essential elements require the superintendent to make a reasonable interpretation and the Board to set indicators to measure each fundamental.

FUNDAMENTALS OF THE 2020 VISION

1.    Maintaining the highest standards in the areas of fine arts; health/fitness; literacy – reading, writing and communications; mathematics; science; social studies, and world languages.

2.    Developing self-awareness, emotional/social intelligence, responsible decision-making and citizenship.

3.    Encouraging and enabling students to be academic entrepreneurs and risk-takers who can choose to pursue academic passions and interests beyond traditional curriculum and beyond the traditional classroom environment.

4.    Adjusting to a 21st Century Body of Knowledge, which acknowledges that the digital age changes the knowledge students must have. Curriculum should be flexible and responsive to a constantly changing, global reality.

5.    Including 21st Century Thinking and Process Skills such as critical thinking, cross-discipline thinking, creativity, innovation, collaboration, communication, problem solving, and information and technology literacy in curriculum design.

6.    Developing Global Awareness, with a focus on understanding real-world problems, issues, concerns, commonality, differences and interdependence.

7.    Using best practices for pre-assessment, formative and summative assessment.

8.    Delivering best instructional practices using reflection to refine and hone teaching and learning skills.

9.    Providing instructional support that encourages a variety of teaching styles intended to meet the diverse needs of learners who will demonstrate appropriate yearly progress based on individual needs.